NCAA Tournament predictions: Picks for Thursday's 1st-round games (3/16/17); Last minute bracket help

The NCAA Tournament begins -- FINALLY! -- with a full slate of 16 games on Thursday. Top seeds Villanova and Gonzaga will be in action, as well as Final Four contenders Arizona, Florida and Purdue. Here are all the picks from NJ.com expert Bracket Boy.

EAST REGION

Big East Tournament final: Creighton vs. Villanova

DAVID MAIALETTI

No. 1 Villanova Wildcats vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary's

The experts seem to be sleeping on Villanova as it tries to become the first repeat NCAA champions since Florida. That's a mistake. This team is better than a season ago, and Josh Hart is completing a legacy as one of the greatest college basketball players this century. The Wildcats advance easily. Villanova 97, Mount St. Mary's 59.

No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech Hokies

The 8-9 games are usually tricky. This one is not. Wisconsin is a 5 1/2-point Vegas favorite for a reason -- the Badgers are deeper and more talented, and they'll spoil Virginia Tech's return to the tournament field. Wisconsin 64, Virginia Tech 56.